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Looking ahead: preparing for the Trusted global research conference 2025
In his latest piece, Professor Sir Peter Mathieson, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh, sets the stage for the Trusted Global Research Conference 2025, exploring the critical themes shaping this year’s discussions. From the evolving research security landscape to the challenges of balancing global collaboration with institutional resilience, he reflects on why now is the time for UK universities to come together, share insights, and navigate the complexities of Trusted Research.
On 1 April 2025, UUKi will host its first ever Trusted Global Research Conference. This presents an opportunity for UK university representatives to gather in person to discuss mutual challenges in protecting our trusted, secure and world-leading UK universities.
Since Trusted Research was first launched at the UUK Annual Conference in September 2019, the geopolitical, technological and global research landscape has evolved rapidly and continues to do so.
Our responsibilities as custodians of centres of knowledge and research have grown to involve deeper consideration of risk management, where we must both seize opportunities and mitigate considerable challenges.
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Trusted global research conference 2025
The conference will consider critical issues for UK universities and existing UK measures, such as the National Security Act 2023, designed to modernise UK counter-espionage laws and address the evolving state threat to national security. We will focus on the interface between geopolitics and international research partnerships and explore how other higher education sectors elsewhere in the world are responding to research security challenges.
The Higher Education Export Control Association (HEECA) will upskill us in export controls compliance and share examples of good practice. Experts will advise on the development of awareness-raising strategies amongst academics and professional staff to enhance a whole-institution approach to security. We will consider real-life security scenarios and learn how to ensure effective responses. Sector leaders will draw the conference to a close with reflections on balancing new and evolving opportunities with security implications and developing institutional strategies that support secure and prosperous operations.
I encourage all UK universities to send a representative to the Trusted Global Research Conference at Woburn House, London, 1 April 2025, and be a part of this significant occasion as we together consider research security forefront, centre, and in depth, for the first time in the organisation’s history.
Professor Sir Peter Mathieson MBBS(Hons)(London), PhD(Cambridge), FRCP(London), FRCPE, FMedSci, FRSE, FRSA, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh
